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The Shell Crochet Cowl: Free Pattern

The Shell Crochet Cowl is made up of puffy shells and a ribbed buttonhole edge. This free pattern walks you through all the steps to make your own. This post contains affiliate links where possible. See my full disclosure policy here.

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We have had a cool-bordering-on-cold week here in the desert, which has motivated me to finally finish up the pattern for this Crochet Cowl that I started back before it got hot. (I sometimes have a hard time digging into a pile of yarn when it is over 100 degrees out) This is a thick, warm cowl that buttons up the front. I used cover buttons because they are the best. You should use them too. Or really any 3/4 inch button will work.

But, really. Cover buttons – so cute!

This pattern uses a stitch I call a long double crochet (ldc), which is similar to a stitch sometimes called an extended double crochet (I think). You can read more about this stitch and see a photo tutorial on how to work it if you go back to one of my first posts ever. If you have any questions about the pattern, please let me know.

long double crochet (ldc): Yarn over and draw through a loop (3 loops on hook). Pull up on the yarn so the two bottom loops are lengthened until they are brought up to the height of the last loop. Yarn over and draw a loop through the two long loops. Two loops remain on hook. Yarn over and draw through both loops. (see pictures and more detailed info on how to work this stitch here).

Shell Crochet Cowl Pattern

My Shell Crochet Cowl pattern is free for personal use. You may sell items that you make from the pattern as long as you include a link back to the pattern when possible. Please do not sell or redistribute the pattern in anyway. If you want to share the pattern with a friend, please just send them a link. Pageviews provide me with income that allow me to offer my patterns free of charge. Thank you for your support!

Ribbed Edge with Button Holes This portion of the cowl is made up of short rows worked perpendicular to the previous rows.

Switch to I hook.Row 1: ch 6, turnRow 2: skip one ch, sl st into back loops only of 5 chs, sl st through sc in cowl edge, ch 1, turn.Row 3: sl st into back loops only of 5 sl sts, ch 1, turn.Row 4: skip one ch, sl st into back loops only of 5 sl sts, sl st through next st in cowl edge, ch 1, turn.Rows 5-13 : repeat rows 3 and 4, ending with a row 3Row 14: sl st into back loop only of one sl st, ch 3, skip 3 sl st, sl st into back loop only of next sl st. Sl st through next st in cowl edge, ch 1, turn.Row 15: sl st into back loop only of one sl st, 3 sl st into ch3 loop, sl st into back loop only of next sl st, ch 1, turn. (buttonhole formed)Row 16: skip one ch, sl st into back loops only of 5 sl sts, sl st through next st in cowl edge, ch 1, turn.Row 17: sl st into back loops only of 5 sl sts, ch 1, turn.Rows 18-25: repeat rows 16 and 17, ending with a row 17Row 26: sl st into back loop only of one sl st, ch 3, skip 3 sl st, sl st into back loop only of next sl st. Sl st through next st in cowl edge, ch 1, turn.Row 27: sl st into back loop only of one sl st, 3 sl st into ch3 loop, sl st into back loop only of next sl st, ch 1, turn. (buttonhole formed)

Row 28: skip one ch, sl st into back loops only of 5 sl sts, sl st through next st in cowl edge, ch 1, turn.

Row 29: sl st into back loops only of 5 sl sts, ch 1, turn.

Rows 30 – 37: repeat rows 28 and 29, ending with a row 29

Row 38: sl st into back loop only of one sl st, ch 3, skip 3 sl st, sl st into back loop only of next sl st. Sl st through next st in cowl edge, ch 1, turn.

Row 39: sl st into back loop only of one sl st, 3 sl st into ch3 loop, sl st into back loop only of next sl st, ch 1, turn. (buttonhole formed)

Row 40: skip one ch, sl st into back loops only of 5 sl sts, sl st through next st in cowl edge, ch 1, turn.

Row 41: sl st into back loops only of 5 sl sts, ch 1, turn.

Row 42-51: repeat rows 40 and 41, ending with a row 41.

Row 52 (a chain loop edging that is worked perpendicular to the ribbed rows): ch 3, skip five ribbed rows, sc in between next two rows (see image below for placement guideline) repeat to end of row. (11 chain loops)

Fasten off yarn and weave in ends.

Fold your cowl in half an line up the ends. Securely sew your three buttons to line up with the buttonholes.

All done! Wear your cute new cowl with pride. 🙂

If you make your own Shell Crochet Cowl, I would love to see it! Share your photos to my facebook page or tag me on instagram or twitter (@persialou), and don’t forget to use the hashtag #persialou for a chance to be featured.

Happy Making!

Here are a few more free crochet patterns you might want to check out:

It&#39;s looks so pretty and it&#39;s so simple *not in a bad way!*… I personally LOVE these types of patterns.<br />It&#39;s so chic and elegant… wow!!<br />Just one question: How much yarn did you use?? A friend gave me some which would go great with your design, but I don&#39;t know if it&#39;ll be enough… and, of course, she didn&#39;t keep the label so I can&#39;t buy any more.<br />

@<a href="#c5778758287146498953" rel="nofollow">Mafe</a><br /><br />Thanks so much for the question. I probably should have mentioned that! I used about one and a half skeins of the Loops and Thread Impeccable yarn, which has 277 yards per skein. So. I would guess about 400 yards? If you have two good-sized skeins it should be enough. Hope that helps!

@<a href="#c8905831103442549418" rel="nofollow">Alexis @ persia lou</a><br /><br />Thanks! It does help, now I know I might need to but some yarn EXCLUSIVELY for your design… haha!<br />Just one final question: what are the dimensions or the cowl??

Hey I just came across your blog and I am so hooked 🙂 I love this DIY especially because I was looking for a new pattern to start on! Thanks, I am a new follower!<br /><br />Janelle<br />P.S I would love if you checked out my blog!

Such a pretty cowl! I am trying out the pattern and am coming across an issue in row 7. After I repeat twice and do my SC, I am out of stitches so there&#39;s no room for the last 3ldc in that row. Help?!

I&#39;m trying to follow the pattern for the Cowl, but am having a hard time understanding what the asterisks means and what it means by &quot;repeat from *3 times&quot; in Pattern Row 6 instructions. The cowl looks beautiful and I hope I can&#39;t make it! I would love any help if possible.

Hey anonymous,<br /><br />I don&#39;t know if you ever received a reply for your question…so I will try to help you understand. <br /><br />The asteriks mean that whatever is between them should be repeated across that row how many ever times the pattern specifies to do so. <br /><br />Take the example of: *skip 2 sc, 5 ldc in next sc, skip 2 sc, sc in next sc, repeat from *3 times, ch 3, turn.

I&#39;m having issues in row 7 also. Can someone help me out?? I&#39;ve repeated from * twice and skipped 2 ldc, then sc in next, but then I only had 2 stitches left and not a 3rd for my remaining 3 ldc&#39;s. I&#39;ve counted the stitches and its not matching up.

How did you figure it out? Where it says on row 7 to “3 ldc in first sc”, am I supposed to skip over the cluster on row 6 below and place the 3ldc’s in the sc between the clusters? When I do that, I’m left with a chain 3 that pulls on the row, as well as confusion over what to do with the ch 3 on row 8.

Hi Eidilia Sorry it took me a few days to get back to you. I think that part of the pattern is probably a little unclear and I am going to update the pattern to hopefully make it less confusing. After you chain three at the beginning of row 7, you should work the 3 ldc into the very first stitch of that row – the sc that was the last stitch of the previous row (right at

Thank you for this pretty pattern. I&#39;ve been trough it and made my cowl. But doing the ribbed edge is killing me :/ looks like it&#39;ll take more time than the cowl itself. I may not get it finished…

Where it says on row 7 to”3 ldc in first sc”, am I supposed to skip over the cluster on row 6 below and place the 3ldc’s in the sc between the clusters? When I do that, I’m left with a chain 3 that pulls on the row, as well as confusion over what to do with the ch 3 on row 8.

Hi Eidilia! Sorry it took me a few days to get back to you. I think that part of the pattern is probably a little unclear and I am going to update the pattern to hopefully make it less confusing. After you chain three at the beginning of row 7, you should work the 3 ldc into the very first stitch of that row – the sc that was the last stitch of the previous row (right at

I love this! I have made 3 in 3 different colors! It&#39;s a brilliant pattern and looks so intricate.

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